The 2025-2026 NFL season kicked off on September 4th with no shortage of anticipation. Fans watched eagerly as the Eagles vs. Cowboys game started, only to be surprised with a swift ejection of Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter just one play into the season. This shocking ejection would serve as a solid preview for one key attribute of the young season: expect the unexpected. Through four weeks, we’ve already seen our fair share of surprises, whether they be dominant performances, key breakouts, or massive flops. This article provides a brief rundown of what we’ve seen through four weeks of the season, and what to expect in weeks to come. So, without further ado, let’s begin.

While Week One came with a few surprising games, perhaps none were quite as notable as the upstart Los Angeles Chargers knocking off the reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs in São Paulo, Brazil, on the season’s first Friday night. This game properly represents the Chargers through the season’s first four weeks, as even despite a surprising upset by the Giants in Week Four and injuries to both starting offensive tackles, the Chargers remain atop the AFC West with a 3-1 record. No shortage of players have been key in the breakout Chargers season, but three offensive players come to mind quickly in assessing the wins. Through four weeks, Justin Herbert has played like a legitimate MVP candidate, racking up seven touchdowns to just three interceptions, along with another 93 yards on the ground. His weapon of choice through the air this season has been breakout wide receiver Quentin Johnston, shifting from one of the most made-fun-of players in the NFL due to constant drop issues to an elite deep threat and all-around dominant wide receiver for the Chargers. Johnston’s breakout, along with veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen’s return, has kept the Chargers’ passing offense undoubtedly explosive, even despite a lack of production from second-year wide receiver Ladd McConkey. The third key in the Chargers’ explosive offense so far this season has been first-round rookie running back Omarion Hampton. Despite a relatively poor first two outings, marred with inefficient runs and no shortage of rookie mistakes, Hampton absolutely exploded in the following two weeks, dominating in the Chargers’ victory vs. the Broncos and serving as the key offensive engine in the Giants’ loss. Overall, the Chargers have a lot to look forward to during the remainder of the season.

The other key team shocking the football world early on in 2025 is the Indianapolis Colts. Widely regarded as one of the worst teams in the league entering the 2025 season, the Colts began the season prep with a move many fans, including myself, found disappointing. The team opted to choose Daniel Jones as its starting quarterback for the season, benching former 4th overall pick Anthony Richardson for the second and likely final time as a member of the Colts. The move was met with a lot of criticism, but so far Daniel Jones and the Colts have proven that it was the correct choice. No team’s start has been more surprising than the Colts’, starting the season with a dominant blowout win vs. the Miami Dolphins, a close thrilling victory vs. the Denver Broncos, and another blowout victory vs. the Tennessee Titans. Throughout these three games, the Colts’ offense only had to punt a single time, making them the first team since at least 1940 to punt only once in the first three games of a season. For the Colts, running back Jonathan Taylor has played like an Offensive Player of the Year candidate, racking up 414 yards on the ground and another 114 through the air, adding four touchdowns in the process. Daniel Jones has played well passing the football as well, compiling four touchdowns and two interceptions with a passer rating over 100, a mark he had never previously reached for a full season during his career. Even despite a close loss in Week Four fueled by Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, another Offensive Player of the Year candidate on track to break records, the Colts have certainly become a big NFL threat.

Among a league full of fun breakout teams ready to make an impact, two playoff game-winning and highly regarded AFC powerhouses have massively disappointed to begin the 2025 season. Both the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans have started off with 1-3 records, with the Ravens especially in abysmal shape to begin the season due to a slew of injuries. Houston’s main issue through the opening quarter of the season has been a sluggish passing offense, with C.J. Stroud undeniably regressing further from his sophomore season, already a step down from his dominant rookie campaign. In Stroud’s defense, Houston’s offensive line has also played at an abysmal level to begin the season, with 40 pressures allowed ranking 9th most in the league, and a 57.1 pass-blocking grade per PFF ranking at just 22nd overall. For Baltimore, a brutal opening schedule only redeemed by an easy victory vs. the Cleveland Browns (looking at you, Green Bay) has left the team with a 1-3 record. Worse, in a game that would send either the explosive Ravens or previously struggling Chiefs to a .500 record, the Ravens not only lost in disappointing fashion but also lost a ridiculous number of key players to injury in the process. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is slated to miss two to three weeks with a hamstring injury, and superstar linebacker Roquan Smith, Pro Bowl offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, and shutdown cornerback Marlon Humphrey also suffered rough injuries. Even worse, elite defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike’s neck injury from the week prior was confirmed to be season-ending, leaving the Ravens potentially without five of their top six players entering the second quarter of the season. Ironically, the Ravens and Texans meet up in Week Five in Baltimore, an opportunity for one team to get back on track while the other falls into an undoubtedly difficult-to-scale 1-4 hole. For two teams with high expectations, the Ravens and Texans each have difficult paths ahead to reach the NFL playoffs.

If Jalen Carter’s spit-related ejection can tell us anything, it’s that the NFL is unpredictable. Some unexpected teams are going to rise, while other previously powerhouse teams are going to struggle. However, in the wise words of Jim George, “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.” There’s a lot of season left, and for the four teams highlighted in this article, that’s more than an important idea. For the Chargers and Colts, a multitude of teams have started hot early on before completely collapsing (a good example being the Sam Darnold-led 3-0 Panthers in 2021). Meanwhile, for the Ravens and Texans, teams like last year’s Eagles have started off slow with .500 records before breaking out and making long runs, even winning the championship in the process. Overall, it’s been a fun NFL season to begin, and we’re lucky to have a lot more football ahead of us.